Clothes washing machine



T. J. POWER CLbT-HES WASHING MACHINE Nov. 6, 1934,

Filed April 18, 1931.

INVEETOR I BY M WW ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 6, 1934 y UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE V i h 1,9f79,4'08 p cLo'rHEswAsnING MACHINE? Thomas J; Power, Milwaulref ,Wis, assignor, by mesne assignments, to United States Hoffman Machinery Corporation; New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware U I p Application April 18, 1931, Serial No. 531,046 claims. 68-38) This inventicn relates to improvements in clothes washing machines in which a volatile, highly inflammableliquid' is used as the cleans ingmedium. V

In the type of washing machines for which this invention is particularly adapted, a stationary tub containihga volatile liquid (preferably naptha) is provided with a rotatable, perforated cylinder which is partially immersed ml in-- the liquid and" space'dfrom the tub. Clothes which are tobe cleaned are placed in the cylind'er; rotation of which causes the clothes to be violently moved about in the liquid contained V within the cylinder. When the cleaning operation has been completed, the clothes are removed from the cylinder and it has been found thatoccasionall'y some of the clothing will drop into the space between the cylinder and the tub, especially where small articles are being removed! fromthe cylinder. In other types of machines guard plates areused to bridge the gap between the tumbler and casing, but in dry cleaning washers the necessity of being able to smother flames at any time has hithertomade existingforms of guard plates impracticable Therefore, it is the principal object of' this invention to provide a simple, movable guard plate assembly soorganized that the door of the tub or case will close tightly to smother flame whether the guard plate is in position for use or not.

"In furtherance of this object, it is-my purpose to provide a countenpart for the guard I which will bear the same relation to the tub margin and the cover as the guard" bears and to provide a notch in the casing for these parts, thereby arranging the elements so that the cover'may be closed, whether the; guard is in an operative positionor" not, and'at the same'time exclude air from the. tub by forming a; comparatively perfect seal between the. cover and tub.,

Anothen object. is to, arrange the counter part so thatlitwill', be simultaneously and automatically operablewiththe guard. 'into opera-- tive, oran inoperative position accordingly as the: guardismoved to an inoperative or operative position. l r

In the-drawing; s Figure 1 is a fragmentary, view in transverse vertical section showing; the guard. in anoperative positions 1 s t t Figure 21s a view similar to Figure, 1 ShQwr ing" the guard: in anzinoperative position,

Figure 3 is a plan view of a deviceas shown in Figure 2, the cover being removed.

Like parts are identified by the same referencecharacters throughout the several views. "The washing machine it comprises generally a stationary tub 1 adapted to contain a liquid 2, such as naptha, a rotatable, perforated cylinder 3 adapted to be 'operatedwhen partially immersed in the liquid, and a' cover 4 which, together with the tub, comprises a casing enclosing the cylinder '3.

The upper margin of the tub is provided with a flange 5 extending horizontally therefrom to constitute with the upper margin a relatively wide 'plane face extending substantially the full width of the opening closed by the cover 4. At the front of the flange 5,a guard plate 6 is securedto ashaft '7 rotatable in spaced bearings 8 and having at each end a sprocket wheel 9. On the interior'of the tub I a counter or filler plate 10 is secured to a shaft 11 provided with. bearingsin the walls of the tub and having sprocket wheels 12 on its projecting ends; Sprocket wheels-9 and 12"are connected by a chainlBL v As Will-be; particularly noted from an inspection of Figure 3, the face 14 is provided with a depressed portion 15 substantially corresponding in length and depth to the length and thickness of plates Sand 10. The cover 4 is provided with a marginal portion 16 complementary to the face 14 and-adapted to engage either of the plates 6 or 10' when the cover is in closed position as shown in Figure 2.

7 When the guard plate 6 is in the position shownin Figure 1, it acts 'as a shelf over which clothes may be drawn-when removed from the tumbler or cylinder 3 and prevents any of the articles "from dropping into the space 17 containingthe naptha 2. Also" the plate 6 in the position shown in Figure 1, fills the depressed portion I5 and constitutes a continuation of the surface 141 Consequently, if for any reason the naptha should be ignited, the cover 4 may be closed as: in Figure 2 and will contact'with the face: 14 andwpl'ate .6-to seal the closure within the tub 1'. The plate 10 will be in its vertically depending position when the plate 6 is in its horizontal position.

During cleaning operations of the machine, the plate 6 will be (as shown in Figure 2) in its vertically dependingposition while the plate 10 is; in: its horizontal position and filling the depression 15'; thus acting as a counter part for the plate 6. W'hen the parts are disposed as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the plate 6 is not in a position which might interfere with the rotation of cylinder 3 and where it might collect some of the naptha. Nevertheless, the plate 10 forms with the surface 14 substantially a plane surface upon which the cover 4 may rest and exclude air from the interior of the machine.

The plates 6 and 10 are connected, for simul taneous movement about the axes of their respective shafts, through shafts 7 and 11, sprocket wheels 9 and 12, and chains 13. The plates are connected so that they always remain in per pendicular relation to each other regardless of their respective relations to the tub.- As indicated, the plate 10 is much narrower than the,

plate 6 in order that it may freely swing past the cylinder 3. It is, however, sufficiently wide to practically extend across the depression 15.

It appears from the foregoing description that a very simple guard has been provided for preventing articles from falling into the space between a washing machine tub and cylinder when such articles are beingremoved from or placed in the washing machine cylinder. The description further discloses that the guard and its counter plate are so arranged that, when either of them are extended across the tub margin, they co-operate with the cover to form substantially a complete seal between the cover and tub, thus preventing air from entering the interior of the tube and volatilized liquid from passing out of the tub during cleaning operations.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine, a door sealing guard structure comprising, the combination with a plate mounted for rotation about a given axis, of a second plate mounted for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the first mentioned axis, and means connecting said plates permanently in substantially perpendicular relation and for simultaneous rotation about their respective axes, together with a door casing and door having portions spaced in the closed position of the door just sufficiently to receive said plates, said plates being alternatively positioned in said space and having such dimensions as substantial 1y to fill said space when positioned therein.

2. The combination with a tub having a door and a cylinder mounted within the tub and spaced from the door of the tub, said tub having a notched margin underlying saiddoor, of a guard provided with a fixed fulcrum outside of said tub and comprising a fiat plate movable about said fulcrum from a position wholly outside of the tub to a position in which said plate lies across said margin in the notch thereof and bridges the space between said tub and cylinder, said plate in said last mentioned position being adapted substantially to fill said notch, and said door seating thereon in a substantially fluidtight manner when closed. 1

3. In a washing machine, the combination of a casing having a door opening provided with a notched margin, a guard plate pivoted to the casing and adapted in one position to lie flat across said margin within the notch, and'a door for said opening adapted to seat upon said plate in such position and upon the casing portions adjacent said notch.

4. In a washing machine, the combination with a cylinder of a tub and cover having margins formed for contact and other margins spaced, and a guard plate mounted outside of the tub and adjustable to project into said tub, said plate having sufficient length to span the space ing and forming when closed a slot between itself and said tub, a guard plate pivotally mounted on said tub adjacent said slot and exteriorly of said tub for movement from a vertically depending positionexteriorly thereof to a horizontal position in said space, said guard when in its horizontal position comprising a seat for said cover and substantially closing said slot.

6. In a Washing machine, the combination with v a stationary tub having an opening, a rotatable cylinder in the tub and spaced from the walls thereof, and a cover for said opening; of a guard plate pivotally mounted on said tub exteriorly adjacent said opening to be movable to a posi tion bridging the space between said tub and said cylinder, and a counter plate pivotally mounted on said tub interiorly adjacent said opening, connection causing said plates alternatively to lie across a margin of said opening, said plates being formed to fit between said tub and cover.

7. In a washing machine, the combination with a stationary tub having an opening, a rotatable cylinder in the tub and spaced from the walls thereof, and a cover for said opening; of a guard plate pivotally mounted on said tub exteriorly adjacent said opening to be movable to a position bridging the space between said tub and said, cylinder, a counter plate pivotally mounted on said tub interiorly adjacent said opening, and connections between said plates whereby pivotal movement of one of the plates from a position across a margin of the opening will adjust the other to such position, said plates being alternatively cooperative with said cover to seal said opening.

8. In a washing machine, the combination wit a stationary tub having an opening, and a cover for said opening; of a shaft rotatably carried by said tub exteriorly adjacent said opening, a second shaft substantially parallel to the first mentioned shaft and rotatably carried by said tub interiorly adjacent said opening, means interconnecting said shafts for simultaneous rotation, and plates secured to said shafts in perpendicular relation to each other, said plates being alternatively movable to positions extending into said opening.

9. In a washing machine, the combination with a stationary tub having an opening, a rotatable cylinder in the tub and spaced from the walls thereof, and a cover for said opening; of a shaft rotatably carried by said tub exteriorly adjacent said opening, a. second shaft substantially parallel to the first mentioned shaft and rotatably carried by said tub interiorly adjacent said opening, means interconnecting said shafts for simultaneous rotation in the same direction, and plates secured to said shafts in perpendicular relation to each other, the margin of said opening adjacent said shafts being depressed to receive said plates, said plates when in said depression each comprising a seat for said cover when closing said opening.

10. The combination with a washer drum, of an enclosing tub having a wall spaced from the drum and provided with a door opening, a door fitted to said opening, said door and tub having complementary margins, one of which is notched to provide a slot between the closed door and the tub, a guard member normally mounted outside of said tub and movable through said door opening to span the space between said tub and drum, said guard member being fitted to said notch, and said door being adapted to seat thereon in substantially fluid-tight relation, and slot closing means provided with motion transmitting connections to said guard plate and movable to slot closing position automatically upon withdrawal of said guard plate from said drum.

11. The combination with a washer drum and an enclosing tub having a wall spaced from said drum and provided with a door opening, a door closely fitted to said opening, said door and tub wall having complementary marginal portions, one of which is notched to provide a slot in the closed position of the door, and plate means closely fitted to said slot and providing a seat for said door, said plate means including a guard portion movable into said slot from a retracted position outside of said tub and projecting from said slot to span the space between said tub wall and drum, together with a slot filler portion connected to said guard portion for movement therewith and positioned to fill said slot in the retracted position of said guard portion.

12. In a machine of the character specified, the combination with a normally closed tub provided with a doorway in its upper portion afiording access to the interior, a cylinder within the tub to which access may be had through said doorway, a set of interchangeable filler plates mounted on said tub each adjustable to a position of use extending transversely across one margin of the doorway, one of said plates being formed to substantially cover said wall margin and the other having greater inward extension adapting it to form an inwardly extending shelf between such margin and the cylinder, a door cooperative with either of said plates to close said doorway opening, and a connection between said plates adapted to transmit motion from one to the other to position them interchangeably across said doorway margin, said connection being adapted to move either plate to a position of use when the other plate is being moved out of said position.

13. In a machine of the character specified, the combination with a tub having a door opening and a door closely fitted to close said opening except at the lower margin of said door,

of a cylinder mounted for rotation in the tub and having an opening, an unloading plate of suflicient dimensions to span the space between the cylinder opening and the tub opening and to cooperate with the door in filling that portion of the tub opening not closed by said door, means mounting said unloading plate for movement from said door openings to a retracted position, and a secondary closure normally retracted and connected with said unloading plate to be actuated thereby into the door opening of the tub, said secondary closure being likewise adapted to cooperate with said tub and tub door to close that portion of the tub door opening which is not closed by the door.

14. In a dry cleaning washer, the combination with a tub having a door opening and a cylinder mounted therein and having an opening, of an unloading device of such dimensions as to rest in its unloading position upon the margins of said tub and cylinder adjacent their respective openings and to span the space therebetween, a door for said tub, said unloading device comprising a seat against which said door is closeable to substantially seal the interior of the tub when said device is in unloading position, means mounting said unloading device for movement from its unloading position to a retracted position outside of the tub, a substitute door seat cooperative with said door to close the opening in the tub and normally retracted, and means for transmitting movement between said unloading device and said substitute door seat for the movement of the latter to operative position beneath the door when the former is retracted.

15. In a dry cleaning washer, the combination with a tub having a door opening and a door spaced when closed from the margin of the tub below said opening, a cylinder within the tub provided with an opening, an unloading plate pivoted on the outside of the tub and movable from a retracted position outside of the tub to an operative position across said margin to span the space between the cylinder and the tub and 1 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION,

Patent No. 1,979,408. November6, 1934.

THOMAS J POWER,

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 101, claim 6, for "connection" read connections; and that the said. Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of January, A. D. 1935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

